# The Main Event (2015 concert tour)

The Main Event was a co-headlining concert tour from American boy band New Kids on the Block with special guests TLC, and Nelly. The tour began on May 1, 2015, in Las Vegas, and finished on July 2, 2015, in Buffalo, New York. It included close to fifty dates across North America. It was the thirty-eighth ranked North American tour of 2015, grossing $26.1 million.

## Background

In January 2015, New Kids on the Block appeared on Good Morning America to announce the tour. It had been hinted that the band might collaborate with TLC and Nelly while on the road. For the show's production there would be "new and top notch production elements", and a 360 degree stage. TLC was excited about the tour and said, "We are thrilled to be able to join pop icons NKOTB and Nelly on tour. We are equally excited to back on the road connecting with our fans in such huge arenas."

## Concert synopsis

The concert began with Nelly performing a few of his songs, followed by TLC's set, which was approximately 40 minutes long. Then there was a ten-minute break before New Kids on the Block took the stage. Going with the theme of the tour, the band dramatically entered the stage looking "like prizefighters entering a ring," "wearing modern leather ensembles" and opening their set with a new song. "1989" would appear in a wedding-invitation style font on the screen whenever a classic New Kids song was performed. Fans could see the band during the costume changes that were captured on the "Quick Change Cam."
The show was filled with production and choreography for every song, including streamer cannons, confetti shooting high into the air, and heart-shaped balloons. The band started the show with two new songs. Other songs performed were "Block Party", "10", "Crash", "Step by Step" and "My Favorite Girl". There were solo sections during the show, such as Jordan Knight on his solo hit "Give It to You", Joey McIntyre on "Twisted", and Donnie Wahlberg on "I Need You".

## Setlists

* "E.I."
* "Air Force Ones"
* "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)"
* "Just A Dream"
* "Ride wit Me"
* "Hot in Herre"
* "What About Your Friends"
* "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg"
* "Baby-Baby-Baby"
* "Creep"
* "Diggin' on You"
* "Unpretty"
* "Red Light Special"
* "No Scrubs"
* "Meant To Be"
* "Waterfalls"
* "Block Party"
* "Crash"
* "My Favorite Girl"
* "You Got It (The Right Stuff)"
* "The Whisper"/"Single"/"Shout"
* "Let's Try It Again"
* "We Own Tonight"
* "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)"/"Valentine Girl"/"If You Go Away"/"Never Can Say Goodbye" /"Please Don't Go Girl"
* "Remix (I Like The)"
* "Summertime"
* "Dirty Dancing"
* "One Song"
* "Tonight"
* "Baby, I Believe in You"/"Give It to You" (Jordan Solo)
* "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)/"Twisted" (Eurythmics cover)(Joey solo)
* "I Need You"/"Lean on Me" (Bill Withers cover) / "Cover Girl" (Donnie Solo)"`
* "Games"
* "Step by Step"
* "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)"
* "Hangin' Tough" / "We Will Rock You" (Queen) cover

## Tour dates

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| North America ||||
| May 1, 2015 | Las Vegas | United States | Mandalay Bay Events Center |
| May 2, 2015 | Anaheim | United States | Honda Center |
| May 3, 2015 | San Jose | United States | SAP Center |
| May 5, 2015 | Vancouver | Canada | Rogers Arena |
| May 6, 2015 | Tacoma | United States | Tacoma Dome |
| May 8, 2015 | San Jose | United States | SAP Center |
| May 9, 2015 | Inglewood | United States | The Forum |
| May 11, 2015 | San Diego | United States | Viejas Arena |
| May 12, 2015 | Glendale | United States | Gila River Arena |
| May 14, 2015 | Dallas | United States | American Airlines Center |
| May 15, 2015 | New Orleans | United States | Smoothie King Center |
| May 16, 2015 | Houston | United States | Toyota Center |
| May 18, 2015 | Oklahoma City | United States | Chesapeake Energy Arena |
| May 19, 2015 | Kansas City | United States | Sprint Center |
| May 20, 2015 | Saint Paul | United States | Xcel Energy Center |
| May 22, 2015 | St. Louis | United States | Scottrade Center |
| May 23, 2015 | Rosemont | United States | Allstate Arena |
| May 24, 2015 | Rosemont | United States | Allstate Arena |
| May 26, 2015 | Cincinnati | United States | U.S. Bank Arena |
| May 27, 2015 | Nashville | United States | Bridgestone Arena |
| May 29, 2015 | Auburn Hills | United States | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
| May 30, 2015 | Grand Rapids | United States | Van Andel Arena |
| May 31, 2015 | Indianapolis | United States | Bankers Life Fieldhouse |
| June 2, 2015 | Charlotte | United States | Time Warner Cable Arena |
| June 4, 2015 | Sunrise | United States | BB&T Center |
| June 5, 2015 | Orlando | United States | Amway Center |
| June 6, 2015 | Atlanta | United States | Philips Arena |
| June 7, 2015 | Louisville | United States | KFC Yum! Center |
| June 9, 2015 | Norfolk | United States | Norfolk Scope |
| June 10, 2015 | Washington, D.C. | United States | Verizon Center |
| June 11, 2015 | Bethlehem | United States | Sands Bethlehem Events Center |
| June 12, 2015 | Uncasville | United States | Mohegan Sun Arena |
| June 13, 2015 | Bethlehem | United States | Sands Bethlehem Events Center |
| June 14, 2015 | Pittsburgh | United States | Consol Energy Center |
| June 16, 2015 | Columbus | United States | Nationwide Arena |
| June 17, 2015 | Cleveland | United States | Quicken Loans Arena |
| June 19, 2015 | Philadelphia | United States | Wells Fargo Center |
| June 20, 2015 | Uniondale | United States | Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum |
| June 21, 2015 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| June 22, 2015 | New York City | United States | Madison Square Garden |
| June 24, 2015 | Boston | United States | TD Garden |
| June 25, 2015 | Boston | United States | TD Garden |
| June 27, 2015 | Hershey | United States | Hershey Park Stadium |
| June 28, 2015 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre |
| June 29, 2015 | Toronto | Canada | Air Canada Centre |
| June 30, 2015 | Montreal | Canada | Bell Centre |
| July 2, 2015 | Buffalo | United States | First Niagara Center |

## Critical reception

Kelli Skye of the Orange County Register said that the show "was a grand spectacle done in the round so guests could get a 360-degree view of all of the on state action... [they] made sure that every section of the venue got a little love." Beth Spotswood from SF Gate stated that the New Kids "appeared older, more embarrassing in concert." Spotswood was ready to go home once McIntyre went out on stage wearing nothing but white jeans. On opening act Nelly, she said, "it was a bit sad to see the rapper hit the stage to perform for a bunch of moms at 7:20 p.m. on a Sunday evening." McIntyre would occasionally thank "the audience for sticking by NKOTB."